Aoxomoxoa Songs Ranked

Aoxomoxoa is a 1969 album by the Grateful Dead. One of the first rock albums to be recorded using 16-track technology, fans and critics alike consider this era to be the band’s experimental apex.^{[citation needed]} The title is a meaningless palindrome, usually pronounced. Rolling Stone, upon reviewing the album, mentioned that “no other music sustains a lifestyle so delicate and loving and lifelike”. The album was certified gold by the RIAA on May 13, 1997. In 1991 Rolling Stone selected Aoxomoxoa as having the eighth best album cover of all time. It was voted number 674 in the third edition of Colin Larkin’s All Time Top 1000 Albums (2000). Some of the songs on Aoxomoxoa were played live briefly and then dropped. Only “China Cat Sunflower” became a set staple through the band’s career, with “Dupree’s Diamond Blues” somewhat less so. “St. Stephen” was played until 1971, revived in 1976 and 1977 and played a handful of times after that. Likewise, “Cosmic Charlie” was played a few times again in 1976. Here are all of Aoxomoxoa songs ranked.

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8. Mountains of the Moon

“Another song you’ll discover is vastly different from the remix. First of all, the harpsicord is louder. Also, thruout the song there are angels singing. I assume this is a mellotron, since they are female voices. I love the angel vocalizations. However, the louder harpsicord, with the rather loud angels, tends to smother some of the delicate guitar parts. Many prefer this mix.”

7. Doin’ That Rag

“This song underwent huge changes during remix. Besides removing Hart’s drum overdubs, Tom’s keyboards were mixed lower. There are a few different guitar bits too, here and there, which are mixed out. The part that goes “DOES IT ALL FALL DOWN, IS IT ALL GO UNDER” lasts longer, and has some very odd mixing. DOING THAT RAG originally ended with an 3 part harmony, acapello reprise of the chorus.”

6. Cosmic Charlie

“It starts with someone yelling “MAKE IT LOUD”. Then, the instruments build up as normal. And as elsewhere, Mickey Hart’s drum parts got wiped off in 1971. Also, I think Lesh’s bass might be a bit louder here. Tom’s organ parts which were pretty loud in the original mix, were all but REMOVED in their 1971 mix.”

See more: Grateful Dead Albums Ranked

5. Rosemary

“The vocals are mixed a bit differently, and there’s less “sonic haze” over it. It has a longer ending. A song with touching lyrics and a nice psychedelic acoustic feel to it.

4. What’s Become of the Baby

“OK, the orginal version is practically a different song. The original vocal parts lack the heavy chorusing and delay effects on the vocals of the remix. Instead Jerry’s vocals get these eerie, creepy distortions applied at times. There are far more sound effects, tape bits, keyboard pieces, etc on the original mix too. The remix sounds like there’s a fog or haze over the entire song to create its mystical aura, whereas the original mix created this effect with these mind shattering instrumental bits, electronically processing the sounds, bouncing them between the speakers..”

3. Dupree’s Diamond Blues

“Again, mostly its Hart’s drum bits removed, and some of TC’s keyboard parts lower in the mix. This song originally ended with some studio “OH AH” sounds too.”

See more: Grateful Dead Songs Ranked

2. China Cat Sunflower

“Another song that has many of Mickey Hart’s percussion and drum overdubs removed. Also removed is this really cool Tom Constantan keyboard part on prepared piano, that sort of swirls between the speakers. The ending is PROFOUNDLY different, because it DOESNT FADE OUT. Instead, they keep playing the song, until bit by bit, they drop out.”

1. St. Stephen

“During the “Lady Fingers” break, the shimmering keyboard parts are mixed louder, and fade in a bit later. Also, the jam in the end has more screaming in the backround. Every drum break sounds different, since many of Hart’s overdubs are removed. One example are the hand claps removed from the last verse. Keyboard parts were removed or mixed down too.”